Correlation of sex steroid and gonadotropin levels with body mass index in underweight and overweight female patients.

Both extreme underweight or overweight negatively affects reproductive health, but evidence is inconsistent in terms of mechanisms by which low or high BMI causes reproductive problems. The aim of our study was to investigate associations of sex steroids and gonadotropins with BMI in underweight and overweight patients since childhood. In this study 48 underweight and 55 overweight/obese females underwent full clinical-hormonal analyses. Polycystic ovarian syndrome and metabolic syndrome was the most frequent in overweight and obese patients, whilst non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia and ovarian dysfunction prevailed in underweight patients (P=.000). FSH (P=.013) and SHBG (P=.000) levels were higher in patients with low BMI, whilst FT (p=.019) and TT (p=.003) levels were higher in high BMI patients. No difference was found in terms of AMH (P>.05). BMI negatively correlated with FSH (P=.009) and SHBG (P=.001) and positively correlated with FT (P=.001) and TT (P=.002). So sex steroid and gonadotropin levels are determined by particular reproductive disorders, which are associated to childhood BMI and progression of BMI changes.